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There is No Place Like Home... and Dorothy's Ruby Slippers | APPAM Leadership Blog Series

Having spent my childhood in Kansas, I’m all about Dorothy’s ruby slippers. There is in fact no place like home, and I’m proud to call APPAM my professional home for the past three plus decades. This will be APPAM’s 40th research conference—our ruby anniversary. Never has rigorous policy evidence been more important. We must continue to attract and support young professionals to grow and improve our field.

Call for Proposals: Spring Conference 2015

December 8, 2014 10:00 AM

APPAM will hold a two day conference, How Policymakers Use APPAM Member Research, on the implementation of policy research on April 10 – 11, 2015, at the University Club, 1135 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036.

The goal of the conference is to begin a dialogue among academic researchers; policymakers, who create policy; and practitioners, who implement policy. The conversation aims to advance the exchange of knowledge and information among these sectors, creating better informed policy deliberations. APPAM will use this conference to determine if the Association can play a role in this exchange, and if so, what that may entail.

We encourage submitters to consider the following questions in crafting their proposals:

What are the primary dissemination channels for policy research?

Who is responsible for disseminating research? What role do researchers play in this dissemination?

Do policymakers and practitioners use the research, if so, how and under what circumstances?

Are there particular circumstances, settings, environments, or relationships that are essential to the success of developing an exchange, and to sustain that exchange?

What, if any, efforts do researchers make to ensure that their research is readily accessible to policymakers and practitioners?

The Association hopes to attract academics, policymakers, and practitioners to participate in this year's conference, as each sector brings different perspectives on the merits of establishing working relationships with the others, creating an exchange of knowledge and ideas.

APPAM is currently soliciting proposals from members and the public policy community at large for this conference. The format of the conference and the subject matter lend themselves nicely to case studies/roundtables. We will be accepting proposals until January 30. If you have questions about submitting a proposal, please contact Tara Sheehan.